Help veterans obtain in-state tuition, commissioner says

Rutherford County Commissioner Doug Shafer tells the commission Steering, Legislative & Governmental Committee to seek a resolution calling for state law makers to give discharged veterans 15 years instead of two to apply for in-state tuition.(Photo: RC (Rutherford County government) TV recording)

MURFREESBORO — Veterans should be given at least 15 years instead of two to apply for in-state tuition for a Tennessee college education, Rutherford County Commissioner Doug Shafer contends.

Shafer spoke about the issue Wednesday night when he asked the commission's Steering, Legislative & Governmental Committee to consider a resolution seeking an adjustment to the Veterans Education Transportation Services Act by the Tennessee General Assembly to extend the application period by 13 more years for in-state tuition.

Many veterans getting out of the service face post-traumatic stress disorder or a loss of limb or becoming a parent and are in "no shape within two years to be ready to go to college or even to know what they’re doing," Shafer said as a guest speaker of the seven-member steering committee.

Chairman Trey Gooch promised the steering committee will be prepared to consider recommending a formal resolution for the Tennessee General Assembly at the next scheduled meeting, which will be at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 6 in Room 205 of the County Courthouse on the Square in Murfreesboro.

Shafer noted that the 15-year time to apply would match what the federal government offers veterans for tuition for 36 months through the Post-9/11 GI Bill or Montgomery GI Bill benefits..

"But it pays nothing for out of state," said Shafer, who recalled how state lawmakers came close to offering in-state tuition for children of "illegal immigrants" who have been in Tennessee for five years. "If we can give it to them, we ought to at least be able to give it to the people who have done stuff, something for our country."

Shafer has the support of Jeff Davidson, the deputy to the county mayor and a retired Army colonel, when it comes to an application period of 15 years to line up with federal GI benefits.

"It doesn't make sense not to," Davidson said during a Thursday night phone interview.

Shafer recalled being a discharged veteran after 7 1/2 years of service in need of career training after he had been a weapons system officer and navigator.

"But I got out in late 1970s, and there was no need for a that job," Shafer said.

The Legislature ought to be able to adjust the law for veterans applying for in-state tuition without having to spend more money, Commissioner Paul Johnson said.

"There will be no fiscal impact,” Johnson said.

The cost of college, however, should be more expensive 15 years later, Shafer said.

Shafer also told the committee that he hopes all six members of the county's delegation in the Legislature will sponsor the resolution to give discharged veterans at least 15 years to apply for in-state tuition.

State Sen. Jim Tracy said during a Thursday night phone interview that he's willing to work on the legislation that Shafer is advocating for veterans as a member of the Senate Education Committee.

"I want to give them the opportunity to make their mind up on what they want to do," said Tracy, a Republican from Shelbyville who serves a district that includes many areas of Rutherford County. "I’ll be glad to work with him on it."

State Rep. Mike Sparks said during a Thursday night phone interview that he agrees with Shafer.

"I applaud him," said Sparks, a Republican from Smyrna. "We have to have a serious discussion about higher education. There's nobody lobbying for an affordable education. We have a major problem."

Sparks noted that that student-loan debt has climbed to $1.3 trillion.

"That’s the bubble that’s going to burst," said Sparks, adding that he'll be fortunate to be free of student-loan debt when he graduates in December with a bachelor's degree in business management and communication from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. "The whole system needs to be addressed.

"Out-of-state tuition is triple. I don’t see why we are charging people triple. Why are enslaving people to debt? I wish we could just get rid of the out-of-state additional cost and not have that disparity."

State Rep. Bryan Terry, a Republican from Murfreesboro, said through a Thursday email that he's been researching the college tuition issue this summer and spoken with Gov. Bill Haslam, college representatives, and members of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission, the Tennessee Board of Regents and the Veterans Caucus.

"I have met with legal services at the Capitol, as well," said Terry, a Republican from Murfreesboro. "With Tennessee taxpayers, Tennessee students and Tennessee workers in mind, I am more than willing to listen to the concerns of the commissioner to address our veterans educational needs.

"This past session an attempt was made to allow in-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants. I opposed that bill for several reasons. First, from what I have been able to research, taxpayers subsidize in-state tuition from around 25 (percent to) 75 percent depending on where the student attends college. Secondly, the bill placed non-citizens in front of veterans who fought and bled for Tennessee."

Contact Scott Broden at 615-278-5158. Follow him on Twitter @ScottBroden.